aigaforum.com Blog

 EPRDF   in its short life as a government has achieved many magnificent victories. For a starter it has managed to transform the people’s mindset to believe in that there is no other better enemy than poverty. It has expanded elementary education to a universal coverage level and it has changed the country’s image from that of poor and famine stricken in to a country where its economic growth is measured and compared with other developing countries. Ethiopia today is in a much better position than it was 20 years ago! That is what we think but what do you think is the main significant achivement of EPRDF to-date?

 What is your understanding about the Great Hedase Dam at Blue Nile River? Is it a watershed event for its economic and political implication? Can opposition political organizations that are against the project survive and become relevant in Ethiopian politics? Have Your Say!

Siye criticizes PM Meles for stopping the last War with Shaibia early! Is he right or wrong?
Click to listen to the interview…. Interview

If  you think Siiye  is wrong to criticize PM Meles for stopping the war before Shaibia was completely defeated   what do you have to say on Siye’s argument that Shaibia strong man Isaias Afeworki   was a menace to peace  as he is now  thus he see no reason justifiable for the current Ethiopian government stand against Shaibia?

If you agree with Siye,  do you think Ethiopians were united then, as Siye wants you to believe  on how to build Democratic Ethiopia  and its institutions unlike today that is? Siye said though Shaibia is menace to peace, then not now was   the time to fight Shaibia head on. Now is the time, says Siye ,  to reconcile and have heart to heart talk among Ethiopians.  Have Your say either way!

As we all know the Ethiopian government and Ethiopian people are deeply engaged in the Transformation and Growth Plan. The plan calls for Ethiopia to be self sufficient in food with the Industry sector  playing  a leading role in the economy and surpassing the service sector by the end of the next five years.

As Prime Minister  Meles pointed out in his latest Q&A session with Parliament, all Ethiopian Foreign Mission’s primarily role is to seek investors and promote investment.

The Diaspora Ethiopian community is huge in number and can play critical role in the Growth and Transformation plan. The government seems to have  realized the potential the Diaspora community has in contributing to the Growth and Transformation plan. Foreign Minister Hailemariam Desalegn met Diaspora vacationers and investors in Addis Ababa recently and explained his government plan to engage the Diaspora. The question we have for you is what can Embassies around the world  do to help facilitate so you could be an active contributor to the development of Ethiopia.  What do you think their role should be to engage us in the Diaspora to make Ethiopia self sufficient in food as well as to develop the industry sector… Have Your Say!

The current civil uproar against a 60 year military dictatorship disguised in civilian uniform in Egypt is coming to an end. While that may be what the Egyptians want the west and the rest of the world is not sure about the change coming. The US is deeply involved to influence the outcome of the current crisis to its advantage. Similarly other Arab countries are trying to learn from how Egypt handles itself.  Egypt and Ethiopia has a long relationship that includes religion and the Nile River.  Egyptian government as well as experts have been fuming about the latest Nile Treaty Ethiopia is championing. The Ethiopian government had openly complained about Egypt’s role in destabilizing Ethiopia.  Some say Ethiopia is shielded by God’s hand thus why her enemies from far and near have not been able to put her down over the years, but, that aside what do you think a regime change in Egypt would mean to the Nile Treaty and politics? Would a new government deal with the Nile issue in earnest or will it continue with business as usual? Have your say!

Girma Asmerom Returns to Addis Ababa as Eritrea’s Ambassador to African Union!

For more click here…..

http://sallina.com/Audio/News%20Wegahta/zirzir%20zena%20%2016-01-2011.wma

  (Radio Wegahta, Sallina.com)

The one man regime in Eritrea is known to do the unexpected to survive another day. In the aftermath of its huge defeat by the Ethiopian defense forces it signed on the dotted line not to station its forces within 25 KM from the border area as Ethiopia demanded. Today after belittling the African Union over the years, it has decided to respect it by appointing an Ambassador! The question is why? What does this mean to the Eritrean Opposition in Addis Ababa? Who else could benefit by Eritrea’s government right hand man presence in Addis? Egypt? who….have your say!

The Ethiopian Government in agreement(?) with the business community has introduced a  price  fix for certain everyday items. Is this good or bad  in lieu of current world economic conditions and Ethiopia’s development stage? Is  such intervention  in accordance with what a developmental state would do?

(See news on this from waltainfo.com >>>>

http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24950&Itemid=52

Do you think the current inflationary pressure in certain commodities is due to  uncontrolled greed or fast development? And is  the Ethiopian government  justified to fix the price? Have Your say!

Over the weekend the Ethiopian online community has been engaged on a lively discussion about imprisoned Derge official’s fate. The religious institutions in Ethiopia are trying to broker reconciliation between the criminal officials and their victims hoping such gesture will cause the government to release them.

The question left unanswered for many was that why such  issue is an issue for the religious institutions today and why would the government release them? What will Ethiopia benefit from releasing criminals and convicts in a grand style?

Many agreed some of the Derge officials imprisoned may not have had direct hand in the killing field and could be released if the president of the country sees any need to do so. But who is lobbying the religious leaders and government officials to pay attention to these convicts. Are Derge officials convicted and in jail worth the country’s attention today given the many challenges we have? Would releasing them help politics in Ethiopia and if it does how so? Weren’t  the Doctors of   Kinjit,  former Derge officials released recently? What did they do to promote democracy? How would releasing Derge officials will help our promising developmental politics? Have your say!

The economist predicts the Eritrean economy will grow next year mainly due to mineral resources. And in Eritrea everything is controlled by the Government including trade thus we can expect the mad man in Eritrea will have more money to spend on covert action to destabilized Ethiopia as well as to arm himself  with huge mass destruction  arms. On the other hand Egypt is now trying everything in its disposal to thwart Ethiopia’s use of its natural rivers. Recently the Ethiopian Government has said it has evidence that Egypt is supporting anti government forces.

The mad man in Eritrea has been shuttling from Iran to Qatar for help so far but things are looking up for him to cut his trip. Egypt is next door and the Gold rush that is predicted to bring him millions will certainly help him to think big and distract Ethiopia from its Growth and Transformation plan.

We think Ethiopia has benefited a lot over the years with its policy of no war no peace against the Eritrean government but looking forward, with Isaias Afeworki becoming a very rich person and with Egypt dead serious to do everything in its disposal to stop Ethiopia from using its natural rivers and with Sudan certain to break-up come this January so Ethiopia is in need of a new policy towards its belligerent neighbor.

We can easily imagine Egypt  using Eritrea as a last resort to derail Ethiopia’s development if its current covert action fails. We can also imagine Isaias Afeworki who is known to be  careless about the Eritrean people will do  what ever it takes to topple the Ethiopian government. That is what we project. What about you? Have your say! Should the Ethiopian government change policy or continue as is?